I have been dying to create an invitation with a crest, so when Kristina sent me the mood board for this project I knew it was the perfect application! The crest is a popular traditional motif, but when mixed with painterly florals, rich deep colors, and a more casual script - it turns modern. I love the cohesion that occurs when all of the paper goods coordinate. It rarely looks "matchy-matchy" because they are spread throughout different parts of the event, helping string together the theme. Like here, where the lettering style on the escort cards match the invitation, and the floral illustration is lightly added in the background.

"For this shoot, I wanted to bring out the rich tones of the forest but with pops of colour to brighten it up. We decided to combine a gorgeous emerald dress as a unique bridal idea, and deep florals with pops of light colors to brighten up the bouquet and crown.

Maggie (beautiful pup) and Suzanna (model bride) totally connected throughout the shoot, and it was so much fun to capture them working (and bonding!) together. Maggie is a 2.5 year old bi-eyed husky (one blue and one amber!) red husky, which can be unique, so we really wanted to highlight her beauty " -Kristina Staal

"We photographed this shoot at Waveny Park in New Canaan, Connecticut. And decided to use the gorgeous nature as a backdrop combined with stone buildings and their stunning mansion.

We hope that this shoot can give brides inspiration for something a bit different than the traditional wedding dress. And most of all, we hope that it inspires brides and grooms to incorporate their animals into their wedding day! Because after all, our animals are like our family, and there's nothing more special than celebrating one of the best days of our life with family, whether human or furry!

A few tips for bringing your furry bff along on your special day...

Make sure that you put any florals you have on your dogs at the last second (as they may be tempted to rip them off or play with them)

Have someone beside assisting to make sure the dog is safe and doesn't run away

And most of all, to make sure your pup doesn't eat the florals, as some florals can be dangerous for animals! " -Kristina Staal

Sharing such a sweet message from Carolyn of Tesora Photography about our sweet little wedding vendor world, and how collaborating is just as important as creating...

"When I first started in the photography business, I was worried that I would be lonley. After all, you don’t really have co-workers like you do in a traditional setting. However, I was quickly surprised at how wonderful other photographers and creatives are that I’ve met. They’ve become a rock for me in both my personal and professional life, and I don’t know what I would do without them. This positive environment really started when I joined my local chapter of the Rising Tide Society (with the motto, “A Rising Tide Lifts All Boats.”) Meaning, that we are all in this together; your success is my success. It makes perfect sense too, because I can’t photograph every wedding, engagement or portrait session, and one of my friends might just be the perfect fit. Each year, our group comes together to photograph a huge styled shoot. This year, I jumped on the planning and styling bandwagon with my dear friend, Kristina (Kristina Staal Photography) and my old pals at Jack & Grace Events (remember the styled shoot on the mountain in Beacon?). I was able to secure the stunning and historic Wainwright House for our Enchanted Dusty Blue wedding shoot and I’m still pinching myself to have been able to photograph such beauty.

Enter phenomenal vendors such as Gather and Lounge, Carrie Wilcox Floral Design, Coppola Creative, Meredith Hayman, Makeup Artist, Melissa Scrofani of Westchester Hair and Makeup, A Little Something White Bridal Couture featuring Kelly Faetanini’s Star gown in blue, vow books from Elmo Paperstories (donated by Jessica Haley Bridal) and a custom cake from Palmer’s Bakery. Without them, this shoot literally could not have happened. I thank each and every one of them for donating their time and creativity, adding to the beauty of this wonderful day."

Tesora Photography

Worst part of being a wedding vendor? Getting constantly inspired & wanting to be a bride again and again! I mean... why did I not wear a blue dress?

"Joanna and Matt didn’t need to travel far and wide for their intimate 10 year anniversary. Their gorgeous home was the perfect location for their vintage Americana renewal in shades of red, white, and blue. Founders of North Country Vintage Rentals, these two enlisted the help of Monica Relyea Events and Dawn Honsky Photography to capture this special day with just them and their daughter.

The sense of nostalgia in their vintage Americana design is undeniable, and we love how they included a nod to Woodstock and some of their favorite musical artists. From their romantic vow renewal under the tall pines to Joanna’s boho-inspired dresses from Daughters of Simone and Elizabeth Dye, this day was styled to perfection. " -Wedding Chicks

Dawn Honsky Photography

“I ask you to pass through life at my side -- to be my second self and best earthly companion.” This excerpt from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte was read at Joanna and Matt’s wedding at The Hill in Hudson, NY in the Summer of 2007. Last July, the founders of North Country Vintage Rentals, celebrated their 10th wedding anniversary. They marked the occasion on July 4th with an intimate vow renewal at their home in a hidden rural corner of the Hudson Valley.

An intimate meal, lounging, and dancing followed. Later, Joanna and Matt toasted their 10 years together in The Colonial, the shed they converted into an American bar. There is nothing like an at-home wedding celebration. We made use of a variety of spaces on the property to show that a couple can create a truly stylish and memorable event in their own backyard with a bit of creativity and support of the pros." -Wedding Chicks

this project is one of my all time favorite collabs. an incredibly talented team of creatives got together to inspire you at the catskill mountain house. hipster vibes + boho beauty + eclectic details + mountain views = this.

need a last minute holiday dessert? look no further!! if you've had the pleasure of trying these cookies from lauren of jack and grace, you already know they're amazing. did you know lauren used to bake goodies for local shops? if you haven't tried these - you must make them! all three chocolate types makes them sweet and rich, with a chip in every bite. plus there's oatmeal in there, meaning you can eat them for breakfast.

ingredients

1 cup all purpose flour

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

10 tablespoons (1 1/4 sticks) unsalted butter, room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup (packed) golden brown sugar

1 large egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup old-fashioned oats

1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup milk chocolate chips

1/2 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup coarsely chopped fresh or frozen cranberries

technique

preheat oven to 350 f. grease or line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

I adore gift giving. I love to watch a smile spread across a loved ones face (or better yet, a tear in their eye. love a good crying gift giving sesh). you know what's even better than that though? knowing you're DONE with holiday shopping. so I'm here to share my favorite finds this year & a few past year favorites. shop the links below. I am not affiliated with any of the companies or products, these truly are my faves! there's a few more ideas listed below that aren't in the visual so make sure to give it a once over.

When my family vacationed in Italy we bought a few ceramic pieces in Florence in the classic lemon pattern. One of the pieces broke when we got home & my mom was heartbroken. I was able to find the same exact pattern online! The Little Market supports artisan women around the world by selling their goods. While this lemon pattern is selling through, there's still a few pieces left. Get it HERE

I had always toyed around with the idea of hosting a workshop. I loved the prospect of getting to pass my knowledge onto others. There is a magic and power to creating something, with a skill you never knew was inside of you. It's a special moment to watch that happen for someone else. I was so thrilled when Kate at Kate and Co Events gave me the extra little push; she reached out to me in hopes to collaborate on a workshop! Kate is a pro styler, making our space look like "Pinterest came to life" - as one of my students described. And she even brought on Alhy Berry to document it all.

"So, many of you have been asking “what is a ‘Sip ‘n See’?” It’s a sweet Southern tradition—a casual affair, meant to give family and friends the opportunity to ooh and aah over your new addition. New parents are short on time (and sleep!), so it is the perfect party to outsource. The new parents invite their close friends and family to come enjoy a drink (sip), meet (see) and cuddle the new baby. Yajaira and Kipp brought us onboard to design, style and plan the day. And what an adorable occasion it was!" -Jack and Grace Events

Inspired by nature’s color palette as Summer transitions to Fall, an Indian Summer has the beauty of both seasons rolled into one. What better way to celebrate the couple of the hour than with a bright and playful afternoon outside serving margaritas and throwing confetti?

We were all desperately hanging on to the last ray of summer sunshine; and were happily surprised when an Indian Summer hit in the middle of a sweet autumn October.

Vibrant pineapple floral arrangements brought the DIY low palette table fit with rugs, blankets, and pillows to life. Over at the bar cart, margaritas were ready to be mixed, and custom chocolates looked too beautiful to eat. Down the walking path, the giddy couple threw custom mixed confetti at each other, and didn’t have to worry where it landed because it’s biodegradable! The bride to be, Karolina, stunned us all in a two-piece ensemble featuring a blush lace crop top and flowing tulle skirt in a contrasting cream. The afternoon ended with a a pair of clinking glasses etched with “his and hers,” as the sun began to descend behind the glowing estate.

So how does a couple take this inspiration and bring it to life at their own event?

Start with the pallet table and set the scene for a casual and approachable setting.” Megan told us.Simply stack as many palettes long and tall as you deem right. To achieve the same color feeling, gravitate towards indigo blues and white when picking decor. Layer your seating; runner rugs, blankets, and tons of pillows and poufs. Create a quick and gorgeous runner with a few yards of your favorite fabric and some branches of eucalyptus. If it’s available make sure you grab a few bundles of the seeded variety, it adds some texture and variety in size.

Onto the bar cart: stock it up! Using clear glass containers and throwing in fresh fruit creates a clean and colorful look. If you’re going for the “mix your own” bar, label everything! Hire a calligrapher or cozy up to your friend with the best hand writing. Make sure to throw in some small flower arrangements, even if it’s just a few blooms in a rocks glass. Now pour yourself a margarita and relax.

If a bride to be could take anything from my daydream that came to life, I’d want her to be inspired to savor the moment, and throw love around like confetti.

Mike and I were vacationing in Asheville, North Carolina with our friends Matt and Jamie. When we got to our rental house and weredeciding who got which room Matt said "let the honeymooners have the master suite" - I laughed but seriously thought nothing of it. Little did I know he thought he was accidentally blowing Mike's cover. The next day we headed out on a drive on the Blue Mountain Parkway headed towards a hike on Black Balsam Knob. The drive was gorgeous, sunny, and picturesque. But as soon as we got to the trail head parking lot the skies opened up and it started pouring. Mike said he wanted to wait it out, even though we had a brewery tour scheduled in a couple of hours that we might miss. That should've been my tip off. He actually tried to convince us we should just start the hike, even though it was still raining. Looking back I know it was because he was anxious to pop the question, but at the time I had no clue. Mike's ambitious and adventurous, it is totally like him to want to start a hike in the pouring rain. Almost all of the cars left the parking lot and we stuck around waiting it out. Eventually it cleared up enough that we decided to head up the trail. I felt light headed. Maybe it was the altitude, maybe it was intuition. A moderate but short hike brought us to what felt like the top of the world. Jamie had her camera and started snapping photos of the 360 degree views of the Pisgah National Forest all around us. Jamie's a photographer and it was totally normal for her to have her professional camera with her. In case you haven't noticed the theme, I had no idea what was going on. Mike beckoned me over to sit next to him, and he started digging in his backpack as I asked him for his phone to take a photo. When I looked over at him he wasn't handing me his phone, but rather on one knee holding a little wooden box. I heard Jamie clicking in the background. Mike took my hand and told me he had known for a long time that he knew he wanted to marry me. As the quote goes, "we were together, I forget the rest". I blacked out. I cried a lot. We stood and hugged and I looked at the ring and realized something so incredible. This was the marquis diamond my father proposed to my mother with. With my heart literally in my hand, I said yes to forever.

"This styled shoot focused on whimsical details and the stunning Claire Pettibone dress. We wanted to give this shoot a different look than the typical- so we let the bride's makeup be inspired by the gorgeous florals- the deep purples/mahogany colors especially. We wanted to create the feel of a midsummer's night dream, in modern times. Magic, light, and full of custom details. A bunch of local vendors pooled their resources to make this beautiful shoot happen. The back of this dress- and the accompanying cape helped inspire the long floral centerpiece and other touches. Hand-painted macaroons gave the dessert table a nature-feel." - Kelsey Combe on Red Oak Weddings

"When thinking about this concept, we were inspired to mix the old with the new. The gardens and architecture of this late 1800s historical home nestled in the heart of Amherst, Massachusetts, created a simple but elegant backdrop to allow our deep beautiful jewel tones to take center stage. Our vision for this beautiful shoot was to showcase a deep modern jewel tone palette and embrace a balance of the classic surroundings and the rich modern romance. We created a bold design with hues of pinks, purples, greens and blues, a palette that we accented with the mixture of vintage details and modern touches. From the modern invitation suite with its geometric shapes and bold colors to the ombre guest seating we were inspired by this beautiful balance of classic and modern." - Parsimony Inspired, Artfully Wed